VCM/PVC Process

Almost all Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) produced is used inmanufacturing of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) resins. PVC is usedin the building and construction industry, consumer goods andpackaging. Filtration plays an important part in the VCM/PVCprocess as it has a direct affect upon process yield, processefficiency and product quality, and also helps minimize operatorexposure to hazardous VCM.Typically, vaporized ethylene dichloride is dried and passedover a catalyst (e.g. pumice or charcoal) packed in stainlesssteel tubes that are directly heated in a cracking furnace. Thehot effluent gases are quenched and the condensed gases fedinto a fractionating tower operating under pressure. The prod-uct VCM is formed by condensing the overhead vapors in awater condenser. The VCM is then filtered and sent to either astorage tank for further processing to produce PVC or sold toother manufacturers that make PVC.pall.com